Christmas Decorating Done

I finally finished my Christmas decorating. No, it didn't take two weeks, more like two days, I have just been super busy (like we all are) and haven't made time to sit down at my computer for any length of time to report about my progress.

I have a tree issue. When I ordered my Christmas tree on-line a few years ago, I accidentally ordered a HUMONGOUS tree instead of a normal tree. The tree I ordered should be in a mall or a bank or a town square, not my house. Last year, I ended up putting it out on my back porch because the base of the tree was soooo large that it took up too much space in the living room. The height was fine INSIDE the house, but out on the porch - not so much. It was about two feet too tall. So in a state of panic and depression, I opted to leave off the top tier of the tree, creating a large Christmas bush on my back porch.

This year I had the brilliant idea of leaving off the bottom tier instead. Duhhhh...it only took me a year to figure this one out. Now I have a normal 8 foot tree! Plus, it is way skinnier at the bottom so it doesn't take up alot of space in my living room which was the issue in the first place. Yahoooooo!

I am so happy that I don't even care that half of the lights don't work. It must have something to do with the missing 4 feet on the bottom. Oh well. It's up and it's decorated. Move on.

The tree did not photograph well. In person, it is much prettier.

It is covered in birds of all kinds. I like the tropical birds.

I like the clam shell filled with silver ornaments. I recently found the foo dogs at a local shop. They are old yard ornaments....heavy.

I like how the mantle turned out. The wise men candle holders are hand-me-downs from my mom so they have good Christmas memories.

I put a little tree in my kitchen.

In the laundry room, I put a Christmas card display to enjoy while folding clothes.

I also put my "hot mess" ornament wreath in the laundry room. I like to decorate in here because we use this area so much - might as well be festive!

This wreath is filled with hand-me-down ornaments as well as some of the ornaments that the kids made in preschool, etc. When you put them all together, they look pretty cute!

The dining room creche looks good with the red accents.

What do you do with the beaded garlands that get tangled up in a giant mess? Do this...it saves hours of frustration and looks nice, too.

I love my bust.

This wreath hangs in the entryway over a plate glass window. It is the first thing you see when you walk in. My sister and I made a similar wreath for our mother. It is covered in vintage ornaments. I add more every year.

I put all of my elves and Annalee figures on this little tree in the atrium. I might need a bigger tree next year to accommodate more elves.

There is another tree out on the back porch. This one has all of the crocheted and tatted snowflakes and angels that my great-grandmother made over the years.

Let the wrapping begin...